Petunia plant named ‘Petvani’

ABSTRACT

A new  Petunia  plant named ‘Petvani’ characterized by its trailing, outwardly spreading plant habit, very strong branching habit, very floriferous habit, single flowers that are vanilla in color, and good garden performance.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Petunia hybrida.

Varietal denomination: ‘Petvani’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Petvani’.

The new Petunia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The new Petunia cultivar has a trailing and spreading plant habit and big vanilla colored flowers.

The new Petunia originated from a cross between a Petunia hybrida seedling selection as the female, or seed, parent identified as ‘B0896-1,’ and a Petunia hybrida seedling selection as the male, or pollen, parent identified as ‘A0982-1.’ This cross was made in August 2003. The new Petunia was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in May 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings at Enkhuizen since August 2004, has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Petvani’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Petvani’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Spreading plant habit     -   2. Very strong branching     -   3. Very floriferous     -   4. Vanilla colored flowers     -   5. Very strong heat tolerance

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Enkhuizen, Netherlands, plants of the new Petunia differed from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia have a stronger heat tolerance than         the plants of the female parent.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia are more branched than plants of         the female parent.         In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Enkhuizen, Netherlands,         plants of the new Petunia differed from plants of the male         parent selection in the following characteristics:     -   1. Flowers of the new Petunia open up wider than flowers of the         male parent.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia flower earlier than plants of the         male parent.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW CULTIVAR ‘PETVANI’ AND A SIMILAR CULTIVAR ‘Petpasyel’ (U.S. Plant Pat. ‘Petvani’ No. 18,720) Heat tolerance Very strong (foliage stays Weak (foliage turns yellow green under hot conditions) under hot conditions) Branching Very strong Weak Flower shape Flower opens completely Flower does not open completely

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The observations and measurements describe plants grown in Enkhuizen, Netherlands, in week 23, 2008 in hanging baskets on the trial field in Enkhuizen, on plants of approximately 13 weeks old.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   The plant:     -   -   Classification—botanical.—Petunia hybrida. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Petunia hybrida selection ‘B30896-1,’ not             patented.         -   Male parent.—Petunia hybrida selection ‘A0982-1,’ not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—7 days.         -   Time to develop roots.—14 days.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous, white in color.             Rooting habit.—Freely rooting. -   Plant description:     -   -   Shape.—Annual flowering plant; indeterminate; initially             upright, later on more trailing and outwardly spreading.             Strong branching habit; about five basal branches each with             7 to 10 lateral branches. Pinching enhances development of             lateral branches, but is not necessary to create a well             filled plant.         -   Usage.—Appropriate for hanging baskets, window boxes, patio             containers and landscape applications.         -   Plant height (from soil level to top of plant plane).—10 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—60 cm.         -   Vigor.—Strong.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: 30 cm Diameter: 4 mm Internode             length: 3 cm Texture: Canescent Color: 144A -   The foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, decussate, sessile, simple.         -   Length.—4–5 cm.         -   Width.—2 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire, slightly ciliated.         -   Texture, upper and lower surface.—Sparsely pubescent.         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing foliage, Upper surface: 137B. Lower             surface: 137C. Fully expanded foliage, Upper surface: 137C.             Veins upper surface: 146C. Lower surface: 146B. Veins lower             surface: 146C.         -   Petiole.—Length: 0.5–2 mm. Diameter: 1.5 mm. Color, upper             and lower surface: 146C. Texture: pubescent. -   The flower:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single funnel-shaped flowers,             slightly rotate. Flowers face mostly upward and outward;             axillary. Floriferous habit, three to five open flowers and             about three flower buds per lateral branch at a time.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering from spring             until frost in the autumn.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—6 days.         -   Fragrance.—Strong.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: 7 cm. Tube length: 3 cm. Throat             diameter, distal end: 1.3 cm. Tube diameter, proximal end: 3             mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: 4.8 cm. Diameter: 9 mm. Shape:             Elongated oblong with ruffled apices Color: 145C with veins             145A; at apex 145 C         -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five petals fused in a single             whorl, funnel shaped, slightly rotate. Width: 3.3 cm. Shape:             Spatulate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surface: Smooth, velvety. Color When opening, upper             surface: 157D, veins 145A. When opening, lower surface:             157D, veins 145A. Fully opened, upper surface: 157D, veins             145B. Fully opened, lower surface: 157D, veins 145A. Flower             throat (inside): 157D, veins 145A. Flower tube (outside):             157D, veins 145A.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals             fused at base, rotate shape. Length: 1.5 cm. Width: 4 mm.             Shape: Ligulate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Ciliated. Texture,             upper and lower surface: Puberulous. Color, upper surface:             137B. Color, lower surface: 137C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: 3.5–6 cm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Angle: 40°             to 70° from the stem. Strength: Strong. Texture: Puberulous             Color: 143B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens, quantity per flower.—5.         -   Anther shape.—Two-parted, round, ends fused.         -   Anther length.—3 mm.         -   Anther diameter.—2 mm.         -   Anther color.—155A.         -   Pollen amount.—Large.         -   Pollen color.—155A.         -   Pistils, quantity per flower.—1.         -   Pistil length.—2.0–2.5 cm.         -   Style length.—1.8–2.0 cm.         -   Style color.—144D.         -   Stigma shape.—Ovate.         -   Stigma color.—143A.         -   Ovary color.—143A. -   Seed development:

Seed development and/or fruit production has not been observed to date.

-   Disease and pest resistance:

No disease and pest resistance has been observed to date.

-   Garden performance:

Plants of the Petunia named ‘Petvani’ have been observed to have good garden performance. They have been noted to tolerate rain, wind and temperatures from 2 to 39 degrees C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘Petvani’, as substantially illustrated and described herein. 